Tub bracket



Nov. '2, 1926.

. E. M. CARSKADON TUB BRACKET Filed March 24, 1926 ATTORNEYS PatentedNov. 2, 1925.

UNETED STATES 1,665,516 PATENT ()FFlCE.

ETHEL M. CARSKADON, 0F RICI-IWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFT0 HAVEN G. CARSKADON, 0F RICHWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

TUB BRACKET.

Application filed March 24, 1926. Serial No. 97,066.

This invention relates to a tub bracket. especially designed for use onwashing machines, although also well adapted for other uses.

The object of the invention is to provide a tub bracket which, whenextended and in use, provides a rigid and stable structure well adaptedto provide a firm support for the tub, and which may be foldedup out ofthe way and into a compact space when not in use.

Another object resides in the provision of a tub bracket which is ofsimple and durable construction, reliable and effective in operation,and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features ofv theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts which will behereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forminga part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview showing the tub bracket applied to one type of washing machine,

Figure 2 is a view partly in central vertical section and partly inelevation showing how the parts of the bracket coaet when the bracket isextended,

Figure 3 is a similar View showing how the parts of the bracket coactwhen the bracket is folded up, and

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the stops employedfor the bails of the starch pan bracket.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally a washingmachine hav ing a frame member 2 at one end thereof. It is to beunderstood at this time that any type of washing machine or any suitablestationary support may be used. In carrying out the invention, a channelbar 3 is provided and has its base suitably secured as by bolts and nuts4: to the frame member 2 or to the other suitable support utilized. Atub supporting frame 5 is provided and includes side bars 6 and an endbar 7 constructed of angle iron, the meeting ends of the bars 6 and 7being riveted or otherwise suitably secured to triangular braces andconnecting members 8. At the end of the frame opposite the angle bar 7 across bar 9 is provided, and consists of a flat piece of metal extendingbetween the side bars 6 and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to thehorizontal flanges thereof. Hinges 10 are provided for hinging the bar 9of the tub supporting frame to the lower flange 3 of the channel bar 3.In this way the tub frame is positively supported on the channel bar andyet may be swung from a horizontal position, such as shown in Figures 1and 2 to a'depending or hanging vertical position such as shown inFigure 3.

Means is provided for releasably, though firmly and rigidly, securingthe tub sup porting frame 5 in horizontal position, and this meanspreferably consists of a strut 12 having its lower end hinged as at 13to an angle bracket 14. The upper end of the strut 12 has a double bevelor is otherwise suitably shaped as indicated at 15, to snugly lit inbetween and engage the flanges of the I end angle bar 7. When the tubsupporting frame 5 is to be held and firmly secured in horizontalposition the angle. bar 7 of the tub supportingframe has its flangesengaged with the upper end of the strut arm 12, and

as the strut arm is inclined, the load imposed on the tub supportingframe serves only to enhance the engagement of the tub supporting framewith the strut. Moreover, as shown in the drawings, the entire structurepossesses the properties of a truss.

When the tub supporting frame is not to be used, the tub supportingframe 5 is lifted 'up slightly to disengage the upper end 15 of thestrut 12 from the angle bar 7, and then the'strut 12 is swung inwardlyWithin the open frame 5 and the frame 5 is swung downwardly until theparts occupy the position shown in Figure 3.

As shown in the drawing, the strut arm 12 has a catch 20 securedthereto, the catch being in the form of a hook, and having a curved bill21 designed to engage the flat bar 9 of the tub frame so as to hold thestrut 12 in a substantially upright position when the tub bracket is notin use.

The tub bracket carries a starch pan bracket made up of a plurality ofbails, designated at 30 and 31, the bails 30 and 31 having legs 32 and33 and body portions 3% and 35, respectively. The bail 31 is ofsubstantially U-shaped form but the bail 30 has its body portion offsetfrom its legs, as shown in Fig. 1. The end of each leg of each bailremote from the body portion thereof is Ill) pivotally connected, asindicated at 37, to the side bars 6 of the tub supporting frame. Thismounting of the bails on the tub supporting frame permits the bails tobe collapsed to a position wherein their legs lie alongside of andparallel to the side bars. The bars may also be swung to a substairtially vertical position, and in order to limit the swinging movement ofthe bars to such position, a stop 38 is secured to each bar 6 betweenthe bails and has its ends 39 engageable with the legs of the bails tolimit their movement to a substantially vertical position. The lowerends of the legs of the bails are rounded off, as indicated at e0 inFig. i, to permit the bails to be swung downward to collapsed positionwhen the starch pan bracket is not to be used.

I claim 1. A tub supporting bracket comprising a supporting memberadapted to be secured to a stationary structure, a substantially opentub supporting frame hinged to said supporting member, a strut arm, asecond supporting member also adapted to be secured to the supportingstructure and hinged to the lower end of the strut arm, the upper end ofthe strut arm being engageable with the frame to hold the same in ahorizontal position, said frame hanging vertically downward when not inuse, the strut arm when not in use extending substantially upright andthrough the substantially open tub supporting frame, and interengageablemeans on the strut arm and frame for releasably securing the strut armin its substantially upright position.

2. A tub supporting bracket adapted to be mounted 011 a stationary partof a washing machine or the like, and comprising a channel memberadapted to be fastened to the stationary part of the washing machine, asubstantially open tub supporting frame having an end bar, hinges forconnecting said end bar of the frame to the channel member, a strut,means for hinging the lower end of the strut to a stationary part of thewashing machine, the upper end of the strut being engageable with theouter end of the frame to support the frame 1n its extended position,

and a catch on the strut having a curved bill engageable with the endbar of the frame for maintaining the strut substantially upright.

3. A tub supporting bracket comprising a supporting member, a tubsupporting frame including side bars and end bars, one of said end barsbeing hinged to the supportin member, the other end bar beingCOIlStltLltet' of angle iron, a strut, means for hingedly supporting thelower end of the strut, the upper end of the strut being adapted toengage the flanges of the outer end angle bar of the frame, and a catchon the strut having a curved bill engageable with an end bar of theframe for supporting the strut substantially upright.

ETHEL M. CARSKADON.

